We Don't Need to Know the Future
"What kind of monster is that?!"
After neutralizing the chakra-powered puppets guarding the outskirts of the Lost Tower, Namikaze Minato's team discovered a massive wooden creature erupting from the ground. The creature resembled a dragon, but its form was grotesquely twisted, its body writhing with gnarled branches. Thick, whip-like vines lashed out indiscriminately, demolishing buildings as they flailed.
With a low shout, Akimichi Chōza activated his clan's signature Multi-Size Jutsu, swelling into a towering giant nearly 30 meters tall. He charged at the monstrous wooden dragon, grappling with it head-on in an attempt to subdue it.
However, as soon as he made contact, Chōza felt something was off. A wave of weakness swept over him—the dragon was siphoning his chakra.
Reacting swiftly, Chōza disengaged, leaping back to safety. His expression darkened as he turned to Minato.
"Minato, this thing can absorb chakra. It has the same ability as the First Hokage. This monster was created using Wood Release—Mokuton."
"Wood Release Kekkei Genkai?" Minato's brows furrowed. "But the village abandoned the Mokuton experiment years ago…"
There was no time for speculation. The creature had to be stopped before it rampaged into the residential areas.
Exchanging glances with his teammates, Minato vanished in a golden flash, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to reposition himself. Against an opponent that could absorb chakra, a direct assault was risky. He needed to identify its weakness and take it down swiftly.
If only Kushina were here, he thought, she'd blast it away with a Tailed Beast Bomb without hesitation.
Inside the Lost Tower
Meanwhile, Naruto had found Queen Sāra. She stood among the enslaved citizens of Rōran, trying to calm them. Despite her efforts, the people sat in a state of despair, their heads buried in their hands, murmuring in resignation.
Seeing this, guilt twisted in Sāra's chest. She felt she had failed as queen—her people suffered because of her weakness.
Naruto clapped a hand on her shoulder, his voice flat.
"Your Highness, quit standing around. It's time to act, or you'll lose what little remains of your kingdom."
Sāra turned, startled. "Na—Mianma… Have you dealt with that bandaged old man?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, it took a few twists and turns, but I managed. I've got plenty of experience beating up old men."
Sāra gave him a complicated look before sighing. "So… the next step is sealing the Dragon Vein? But if we do that, Rōran's prosperity will vanish."
Naruto shrugged. "That's up to you. But with things spiraling out of control, you won't be able to keep the Dragon Vein's power much longer."
With that, he turned toward the underground passage. After a moment's hesitation, Sāra followed, leading him to the chamber where the Dragon Vein's core was stored. At the center of a massive altar, a pulsating mass of chakra radiated an eerie purple glow.
The energy surrounding the core surged violently, resisting any outsider's touch. Only those with a contract to the Dragon Vein could approach it safely.
With Sāra's help, Naruto began the sealing process.
Layering the Four-Symbol Seal with the Five-Element Seal, he gradually severed the core's connection to the outside world.
As the process neared completion, Naruto glanced at Sāra, a strange thought crossing his mind. He hadn't expected to be the one sealing the Dragon Vein—he'd always assumed it was Minato.
At that moment, Sāra, who had been silent for a while, spoke.
"Mianma… you're from the future, aren't you?"
Naruto tensed slightly but didn't deny it.
Sāra continued, "My mother once told me a legend… The Dragon Vein has the power to manipulate time and space."
Naruto tilted his head. "Are you thinking of changing the past?"
Sāra's hands clenched. "I… I want to bring my mother back, but it's too dangerous. If history changes too drastically, the ninja world could collapse."
Naruto smirked. "Or maybe… changing history was always meant to happen."
Sāra took a deep breath and straightened her back. "No. Look at what happened to Anrokuzan and that bandaged old man—you stopped them before they could change the past. Some things aren't meant to be tampered with."
She hesitated before adding, "Mianma… I have one last request. I want you to erase my memories. I don't want to know the future."
Leaving the Dragon Vein Altar
More than ten minutes later, Naruto emerged from the underground.
He had erased all traces of himself from Sāra's memory, as well as any knowledge of Danzō and Anrokuzan's meddling with time.
Meanwhile, the monstrous wooden dragon collapsed, reverting into an old, frail man. The backlash of Hashirama's cells, combined with the instability of the Dragon Vein's chakra, had left Danzō in a near-vegetative state.
Naruto stared coldly at the fallen Danzō, feeling a mix of satisfaction and unease.
The once-feared "Darkness of Konoha" had been defeated—not in the future, but here, in the past. He wondered how the Third Hokage would react upon learning of this.
At that moment, Sāra stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Thank you for stopping Anrokuzan," she said. "On behalf of the people of Rōran, I offer my gratitude."
As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Naruto. There was an odd emptiness in her expression, as if she had forgotten something important but couldn't recall what.
Minato's Suspicion
With Rōran's crisis resolved, Minato's team gathered around Naruto.
Something about him was off. He knew too much—about Rōran, about them. He was no ordinary ninja.
Kakashi, narrowing his visible eye, spoke first. "You fight like a Konoha shinobi. Your taijutsu, your ninjutsu—it all follows our village's style. But I've never heard of a ninja named Mianma."
"Kakashi, stop."
Minato's voice was calm but firm. He turned to Naruto.
"If my guess is correct, both you and Anrokuzan came from the future. It's better for the past to remain undisturbed. You should return as soon as possible."
Naruto chuckled. "You really don't want to know the future?" He smirked. "In a few years, you'll become the Fourth Hokage and save Konoha."
Minato's breath caught slightly.
Kakashi and the others stared at him in shock. Minato… the Fourth Hokage?
Minato, however, was troubled. He had suspected Naruto's origins, but for the boy to reveal future events so carelessly… Did he not fear changing history?
As if reading his thoughts, Naruto snorted.
"You're worried that knowing the future will change it? Funny. Even I'm not worried about that. Why are you?"
With a flicker of golden light, Naruto teleported beside Minato, grabbing his wrist.
Minato instinctively reached for a kunai but hesitated.
Perched atop a nearby tower, Naruto removed his mask, revealing a face strikingly similar to Minato's—just younger.
Staring at Loulan's night sky, Naruto sighed.
"Namikaze Minato… Do you want to know what happens next? Do you want to know why I became a missing-nin?"
Minato stiffened. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Thirty minutes later, Minato returned to his team. His face was grim.
Kakashi frowned. "Captain, what did he tell you?"
Minato exhaled. "Nothing important. Just… about Loulan."
He turned away, deep in thought. He didn't need to know the future—but he would change it anyway.
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